Shopping in a big urban centre has its benefits and drawbacks. For a city as diverse as Toronto, the downtown core has a multitude of offerings that cater to a variety of people, providing a colourful spectrum of choices for anyone looking to engage in a little retail therapy. However, the drawback to this is that such a dense landscape can often lead to a few cumbersome scenarios that any urbanite has surely encountered. One, getting to your favourite places can often be more frustrating than the journey is worth when you consider bumper-to-bumper traffic jams and the stresses of downtown commuting. Fuelling the fire further, it can also be frustrating and physically taxing when you find yourself hopping around like a pinball around the city in order to get to your favourite stories — sometimes to the point where a strategy has to be devised beforehand in order to make the best use of your time. Lastly, given the plethora of options available, it can be daunting to try and find exactly what you’re looking for. For me, I’m the type of person where, given too many options, will end up getting nothing because of the overwhelming selection.

First world problems, right? But still, problems nonetheless. Enter: First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower. I often find myself in the downtown core for a variety of reasons, from shopping to holding meetings. This place is great because it’s connected directly or in very close proximity to the main transportation arteries of the city, and offers a one-stop shopping destination curated nicely to the needs of the urban consumer.

Recently I paid a visit to First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower in need of finding a few items that would effortlessly help me transition from day to night. You see, often I’m usually out the door first thing in the morning and don’t get back until 10 or 11PM due to work commitments or industry events after I’m done at the office. So given this routine, much of my weekday style is dictated by pieces that will help me transition from the boardroom to a restaurant, or bar, or some sort of venue. While I was at First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower, I dropped by one of my favourite shoe stores, LodinG, to pick up a pair of handsome Chelsea boots. The beauty of these kicks is that they’re easily one of the most versatile items that a man can have in his wardrobe. They look just as great with a pair of ripped jeans as they do with my favourite suit. Complemented with some great trousers and a turtleneck, which I’ve become obsessed with as a cold-weather essential, from Express (some really great and affordable staple items here, gentlemen), I topped off the look with a beautiful overcoat from Harry Rosen, arguably one of Canada’s premier menswear destinations. At my office, a comfortable pair of pants and sweater are great as they allow me to roll up my sleeves and get to work (yet still look polished if a meeting is on the books), and easily transition into something I can layer with handsome outerwear for an evening event.

If you find yourself in need of a few sartorial options downtown in one convenient location, check out First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower. Even more convenient, they’ll be open on Saturdays for the holidays starting November 19th until December 17th. Let me know what you think!

If you told me before moving to Toronto that I would interview one of the world’s most renowned photographers, I would have laughed. And yet here we are. Very proud of this story I did for the Bay St. Bull featuring magnum photographer, Steve McCurry, and luxury timepiece company, Vacheron Constantin. Head over to the Bay St. Bull or read the full interview below.

Tsurunoyu Onsen, Japan

Even if you don’t recognize his name, Steve McCurry’s work precedes him, existing in the upper echelons of photography alongside other great masters of the craft. Known for his perspective on humanity, McCurry’s most recognizable works have transcended the art form and become symbols of the human condition, most notably National Geographic’s iconic ‘Afghan Girl’. Success, at least on his level, is the result of decades’ worth of tireless devotion — something that can undeniably be attributed to McCurry’s patience, discipline and keen eye for beauty.

Similarly, watchmakers, Vacheron Constantin, embody the same characteristics. Since 1755, they have dedicated themselves to creating horology’s most beautiful timepieces; works of art that capture life’s ultimate luxury: time. It was only fitting, then, that a brand as revered as itself would choose a photographer like Steve McCurry to create a truly unique partnership. In a major move in the company’s history, Vacheron Constantin recently revamped their Overseas Collection and introduced the Overseas World Timer, a self-winding, mechanical timepiece that features a 255-part movement and 37 time zones. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Overseas Collection, McCurry was commissioned to find 12 rare, little-known (and sometimes inaccessible) locations to create a series of photos that served as a global journey in time. The results are nothing less than inspiring.

While we were putting together our Fall 2016 issue for theBay St. Bull, I had the great opportunity to interview Sol Guy, former creative director of Tribeca Film Festival, mover, shaker, creator, motivator and all around very cool guy. I have to say, it is one of my favourite interviews that I have done throughout my career, so far. Sol is a charismatic man driven by his passion, which you can immediately feel as soon as you meet him. After interviewing him, and while I was putting this story together for layout, I couldn’t help but feel so moved by his words and approach to life. Truly, a very inspiring guy. Read the full interview below, or on BayStBull.comContinue Reading…

Fall has, and always will be, my very favourite season. It’s not just the beautiful change of colours and cooler temperatures, but also the fact that a man’s wardrobe expands drastically with a multitude of new sartorial options. Alas, freedom from the constraints of t-shirts, shorts and more t-shirts that summer often imprisons us with.

I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, so it’s safe to say that I am conditioned to (and quite enjoy) cooler weather. Don’t get me wrong, I love the heat, but Toronto’s humidity is next level and right now, I’m ready to move on. After wrapping up another issue of the Bay St. Bull, a business-lifestyle publication that I handle the editorial and creative direction for, I needed a respite from the madness of the concrete jungle and flew back home to Banff to decompress and revitalize with my family. There is something to be said about growing up in this haven, a true gem of Canada’s natural landscape. Right now, the colours have started to change and there is a slight crisp to the air that I absolutely thrive in and relish.

While out here, I’ve partnered up with my friends at Perry Ellis to showcase some of their menswear essentials set against the backdrop of my hometown. Not to mention, I’m also a part of their #100PiecesofPerry campaign, an exciting new take on the traditional runway show from the legendary menswear brand. I’ll be showcasing one item from their fall collection (see: beautiful burgundy button-up shirt) along with 99 other guys from around the world in this “social runway” of sorts, which will also be showcased on Perry Ellis‘s website and social channels, as well as GQ’s (A DREAM!!!)

Finally, the cat’s out of the bag! I’m so happy to announce that I’ve partnered up with my friends over at Samsung Canada as an official brand ambassador and face of their new Gear IconX campaign! Over the course of a few days, I worked with their team to showcase what I do on the daily, whether that includes going for a quick run in-between meetings, visiting a designer showroom or producing a photo shoot. The campaign was built around the concept of “rhythm” and capturing what that looks like within the context of being a creative consultant. Certainly, no one day is ever the same, which makes my job a mixture of chaos and excitement — things that I thrive off of in the fast-paced work hard, play hard lifestyle that Toronto embodies.

Within this concept, we highlighted Samsung’s new wireless earbuds, the Gear IconX, as the perfect device for someone who is constantly on the go. For me, tangled earphones are one of life’s big annoyances. What I love about the Gear IconX is that they’re seamless and subtle, integrating easily into my lifestyle. For someone who is always plugged in, whether I’m listening to music at the gym or my favourite podcast on the way to work, I couldn’t ask for a more convenient mobile device that accommodates my everyday routine.

Take a look below at some photos from the shoot and let me know what you think or if you have any questions about the Gear IconX!

Tennis has always been a sport that I have admired. From its rich history to its ultra-prep status, it is something that I’ve always wanted to be more involved with. Last summer, a few friends and I decided to teach ourselves how to play the sport as a way to get outside and learn something new. While we’re certainly no Federer or Nadal, regular weekend practices have finally got us to a point where we can at least have a few good rallies and not totally embarrass ourselves. Consistency is key, my friends!

Continuing with the tradition, it’s that time of the year again where Canada’s premiere tennis competition, Rogers Cup, draws near. With Milos Raonic’s advancement to the Wimbledon finals recently (the first time a Canadian male to ever play for a Grand Slam title), tennis is very much a part of the Canadian dialogue this summer, along with all the great activities and celebrations surrounding the sport.

Where once lauded, the era of the logo has all but faded away, giving way to an age of simple, beautiful design. Today, clean lines, nuanced details and luxurious materials define the sophisticated man and woman.Continue Reading…

While steel and titanium will always remain perennial favourites, luxury timepieces are making a return to gold as the latest standard in the world of horology. Much evolved from from the garish iterations of the past, today’s variety are refined, striking and ready to make an impact. (Above: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 41 mm Chronograph, price available upon request) Continue Reading…

As a young professional working in a very fast-paced city and industry, I thrive on being busy. Perhaps technology can be partly to blame for this, but my short attention span requires constant stimulation that is, for better or worse, remedied via a task list that is often long and winding.

But even for someone that loves to be kept on his toes, I’ll admit that I am often left feeling exhausted and stretched thin. In many regards, the life of a creative is full of peaks and valleys, and for those moments when you’ve reached a deficit in energy and motivation, a recharge is often necessary. I don’t do it as much as I should, but I’ve come to realize that for many of the priorities in my life, scheduling and making concrete plans is the most effective way of making sure my goals are reached. Blocking off your schedule assigns a finite amount of time to a task, which helps to avoid distractions that I would otherwise succumb to with a less structured approach. That includes everything from going to the gym to editing a story for the magazine that I work for, right down to relaxation. And before you say anything, yes, actually marking down time in your schedule to relax is more necessary than you might think. There will always be tasks that need to be completed and errands that need to be run, but having downtime for yourself is just as important. If you’re like me, however, having a vague plan to relax inevitably results in the opposite. Blocking off that time to recoup is a way to re-establish your equilibrium.

Recently, I was put on to the idea of trying out a staycation. To me, the idea of going to a hotel within my own city has never been that appealing, mostly for the reason that I’d rather just stay within the comforts of my own home than go through the fuss of packing and staying somewhere else.

As it turns out, they’re actually great.

Recently, my friends over at Toronto’s Shangri-La hotel invited me over to experience what a great staycation should be like. Having gone through it, I can understand the appeal. For today’s modern professional, planning a getaway outside of the city can sometimes be more stress than it’s worth. Precious amounts of time are put towards planning, and then furthermore traveling to and from a destination. When you have to accommodate a schedule that only allows you to get away for a few days, every hour counts. Why spend that in transit? Furthermore, the amount of money that you put towards travel expenses could be put to better use via a beautiful dinner or spa treatment within the walls of a great hotel in your home city.

Naturally, the opportunity to stay at one of the city’s most luxurious hotels was one that appealed to me. Should you decide to take a staycation of your own, here are a few things that I’ve learned from my trip to the Shangri-La hotel that you should consider. Continue Reading…